The Rest of the Christmas Weekend

After breakfast on Christmas morning we headed to Fisherman's parents to spend Christmas with his family.
Bebo's car ramp garage that he got from Grandpa and Grandma was the biggest hit. He has been playing with it LOTS!

One of Monk's favorite presents was marble works.

And of course both boys LOVED getting some Woody jammas.

On Sunday morning we opened our stockings.

Both boys got a new pair of shades, some flashlights, and lots of other little goodies. It was a great overnighter with Fisherman's family.

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning before we headed north to Fisherman's parents we opened our stocking from each other and from my parents. Monk was up at 4:15 am thinking it was time to open stockings and go to Grandpa and Grandma's house even after going to bed at midnight the night before. He tried one more time at 5:30, but was told to go back to bed both times.
Both boys got a nutcracker for their collection from Papa and Nana.

We all got lots of treats, some movies, cars, and all sorts of fun stuff.

At breakfast Bebo insisted that Hamm needed to eat as well.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent with my family. My brother was missed, but we had a fabulous night otherwise. The older the boys get, the more fun it is. Each grandchild got a little M&M ornament in memory of their Great Grandparents. Grandma ALWAYS had M&M's at her house.
Bebo and Monk got a Woody suitcase FULL of all things Toy Story. The biggest hit for Bebo is his "Hamm."
Monk got Hungry Hippos. The most annoying game on the planet, yet every child should get to experience it.
The boy's big gift was a John Deer Gator. They were so excited about it that they had to try it out at 11:30 pm on Christmas Eve. Monk calls it a crocodile and Bebo calls it "the surprise." Christmas Eve is always a special time of year for me.

Family Christmas

Last week Saturday we celebrated Christmas with our little family of four. We are so busy over Christmas going to my parents and then driving to Fisherman's parents that doing Christmas at our house on a different day makes things a little more relaxed. We started the day off with some monkey bread and sausage for breakfast and then opened our presents.
Monk got Bebo the only present that he asked for and that was a zebra. He was so excited and slept with it for the next couple nights until the belly popped open and the stuffing came out :(. We are working on getting a new one, but it is not going nearly fast enough for Bebo.

Both the boys got a pull string Jessie from Toy Story and automoblox which they have been playing with non-stop.

This was one of the gifts that was on the top of Monk's list. Toy Story game for his leapster.

After presents the boys decorated a gingerbread house. After nap we went looking for my Christmas present of a mini van. We got some pizza...

...and then came back for some birthday dessert. The boys sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and it was oh so cute! Spending Christmas with my little family has to be one of my favorite days of the year.

Gold Slippers

For those of you that knew my Grandmother well, you knew about her gold slippers. I always found it funny growing up that she always had a gold pair of slippers just like these. They became her trade mark in a way and the people that loved her, loved these too. Every time that I have another child my parents get me a gift for the hospital. When I had Monk I got some new pajamas for the hospital and a nice warm robe. With this baby I wanted nothing more than a pair of gold slippers for myself. I have missed my Grandma dearly in my everyday life and during the holidays that have passed, but the thing that is the hardest for me is bringing what would have been her ninth great grand child into the world because you see my Grandma LOVED the babies and just loved to snuggle them. Each time I slip on these slippers I am reminded of her, her hugs, and her unconditional love. I would love nothing more than to be known as the lady with the funny gold slippers because the first woman I knew like that was one of the most amazing woman I haven ever known.

Live Nativity

This weekend we went to the Critter Barn for our advent calendar. This was the first year that Fisherman and I could actually listen to the story before the live nativity. In years past we have had babies and busy one year olds. This is always a great opportunity to talk to our boys in depth about the true meaning of Christmas.
They also LOVE holding and petting all the animals. Bebo was soooooo excited when we got there that he was shouting everything he said.

Monk enjoyed holding the baby chickens. Always a good time as a family.

Chritstmas Cookies

December is when we get our advent calendar out and do something everyday of the month. Today was making Christmas cookie day! After making frosting, licking the beaters is a must!

Bebo sprinkled all the star cookies...

...and Monk sprinkled all the tree cookies.

You can't do all that hard work and not see how good they taste. With Monk's allergies we are starting with eliminating dairy. I was so happy to find that I could make cut out cookies without having any milk in them.

Bebo was such a big fan of his own work that he asked for seconds. He of course didn't get them, but can't blame a guy for tryin'.

First Snowfall of 2010

Last week Wednesday when it snowed for the first time the boys were begging me to go outside and play in it from the moment I got up. I got out of bed and Monk was RIGHT there jumping up and down telling me that there was snow on the ground.
Finally after nap we had a little bit of time so I bundled them all up and out we went. They had so much fun. The first snowfall through the eyes of a child is so fun!

Christmas Parade

We took the boys to the Christmas parade. They were more obsessed with getting candy than they were with the actual things passing by, but it was still a good time.

Nativity

I tried to get Bebo to help with the nativity scene this year, but he was too interested in playing with the nutcracker decorations that we got out. We are in search for Joseph, but other than that I think that Monk did a good job.